Chain making machine



C. DEISS CHAIN MAKING MACHINE Feb. 21, i950 5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 27, 1945 QQQ c. DElss CHAIN MAKING MACHINE Feb. 21, 195o y 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 27, 1945 INVENTQR @jaw/s 'ezfs Feb. 21, l195() Q DElss 2,498,031

CHAIN MAKING MACHINE Filed MaICh 27, 1945 5 Sheelz's-SheetI 3 BMM ATTORNEYS Feb. 2l, 1950 c. DElss l CHAIN MAKING MACHINE 5 sheets-sheet 4 Filed March 27, 1945 NTO@ m 1- mw `ATTORNEYS INVE 'a//es Feb. 2l, 1950 c. DElss y CHAIN MAKING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 2'?, 1945 INVENTOR l Ma/26' .c- Lzsn Patented Feb. 21, 195) UNI TED S TAT ES PATENT-'F OF F IC E,

2,498,031.: CHAIN MAKI-1VTG-MACHINE Charles Deiss, "wansea, Mass. Application March 27, 1945; SerialiN'o. 585,063

9 Claims.

This invention relatesl to a machine. for makins. chain bymolding'or' casting each link individuallyxthroughf a previously :formedy link;

Oneof the. objects'ofthis'invention is to provde a machine; so that'i-tis-merely necessary to loadthe machine Wit .the material to be molded andthe chain Willtemerge from the machine.

Another object of thisinvention is to provide an; automatic machine-.fusing an injectionV molding processi for forming eachindividual link of the chain". throughh` apreviously formed link.

Anotherobjectof thisinvention is to provide several operationstaliing.: place automatically in a predetermined sequencel by.` which the chain may be: formed automatically in continuous lengths:

Another objectrof'this' invention is to provide several differenti' sequential operations governed by cams from. simultaneously.: operatingcam shafts.

More speciicallyl an` object' ofi this invention is to provideaa,v plurality of members Whichl cooperate to providev adie in which the injection molding takesl place with theA die. parts so that they will support the previous linkandv also com plete theA main die in. providingv athrough passage through the previously-formed link.

WithY these-and; other objects-in View, the invention consists of certain novel features ofconstruction, as will. be more fully described and particularly pointedioutn-the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. lA is va :front elevation of. the machine;

Fig. 2 is -a planview'offthemachine with the hopper removed;

Fig. 3 is afragmentalzview showing means for heating the moldable` material;

Fig. 4 is arsectional `vievv showing a fragmental portion of the' hopper for. the -moldablematerial and its injectingmeans;

Fig; 5l is a. section illustratingk the mold ready toreceive thel injecting-:means andA also illustratinggripping means for a formed link which servesnto turnthe linkQOP';

Fig. 6. is a section substantially' at right angles to Fig. 5- i1lustrating the: injecting' means: as in Contact Vwith the, mold';

Fig. 7 isa sectional view substantially onthe sameline as Fig. 6 showingithezpartsndifferent relative positions;

Fig. 8is a sectional: viewfillustrating the-relative positionsfof twoxofithefgripping means and part of the mold and the injecting means;

Eig. aise-atopiplan view-foi:thefgriimingameans forftheigate;

Fig. 10 is a sectiomonf` line: lil-mor Fig; 6;; Fig. 11 isa section online; l I-H of Fig.9;

with the.-Vv main; mold y Fig; 12 is an elevation of the mold completing means; f

Fig. 14- is a sectional view` onf-line: I4-llf of Fig. 12;

Fig. 15 is a perspective view-of 'one-ofi the :meinbers shown in Fig; 14;: f

Fig; 15a is a perspective View ofv the member mating therewith;

Fig. 16 is aA section on line Ille-IG` ofrFig: 14:;`

Fig; 17 isa; section?` on line: lil-l1 of Fi'gxllr Figs. 184 and 19` are sections on line |8-I8 showing dilierent positions' of the aparts shown; Figs. 20y and 21v aresections onu` line 2 0-20 show-ing different positionsof the parts shown;

Figs. 22 and`A 23 are sections.; on line 22E-22 showing different positionsl off theseparts;

Fig. 24. is avperspective' view-` illustrating one part ofthe main bodyiyoithefmold andi the com.- pletingV members orv the mold' inH one.v relative po;- sition;

Fig. 25 is a perspective-view illustrating.- the gripping and cutting.' memberas engagingv the gate of the i'ormedf link and' oneof the main moldparts as receding froml the link; the same beingheld by the auxiliary: membersl ofthemold-z Fig.- 26f isv a. perspective view illustrating the mold members as having disengagedfthe formed link and a pair of grippersengaging the link'at the location Where the auxiliary mold members previously Were; Fig. 27 is a perspective View illustrating the upper-gripping members ashaving `out through the gate andthe lowergripping'members-as-l1av ing" been turnedthrough and-thenlcwered with the auxiliarymold'members and onemain mold member again'` beingfrepositionedffor casting of another link;

Fig. 28 illustrates two alternative-forms of link which may be cast Icy-appropriately shapingthe moldparts which goto form: the-link.

In f proceeding l with this invention I" have provided a table or bed supportedon legsY which in turn serves as a mounting-for all of'theivarious Working parts of 'the machine. Thev formation of chain is substantially central of. thev machine. The mold is formedoftwo main sections which slideA towardand-from; each other along a supporting surface ofthe machine. Supplementary auxiliary members which complete the molds, slidel on the` bed of the machine Vfrom.` the front to. l said point of.. lformation and.: there-f cooperate for' completingy the cavity.

From above an injector is moved toward and from the mold to interlock with the mold and inject moldable material into the mold. From the rear of the machine grippers advance toward and from the center of action to grip the gate of the formed link and suspend it while the mold completing members are removed from position and from below in opposed relation to the injecting member other grippers advance to grip the chain link and serve to turn it tc 90 and lower it to a position so that the mold cavity will extend through it for the molding of a subsequent link. All of these various movements take place in sequence due to the operation from two cam shafts which actuate the various parts. The two cam shafts are driven in unison from a main drive shaft at the back of the machine. Some heating means is used to keep the plastic material molten until injection takes place. The general sequence of formation is shown in Figs. 24 to 26 inclusive in the drawings.

With reference to the drawings, particularly Figs. l and 2, 30 designates the bed of the machine which is supported on legs 3|. lThe main drive shaft is designated 32 which receives its power from some suitable source as a pulley 33 and in turn drives the cam shafts 34 and 35 by means of beveled gears 3B and 31 and 38 and 35. Various cams on these two shafts serve as the actuating means for all of the various motions which are present in the machine. The position of the cams serve to provide the desired timing for the operation of the various parts.

The mold for the link is formed of two main sections 40 and 4| (see Figs. 2 and 5,) which are substantially duplicate sections and are mounted to slide in guides 42 and 43 on either side of the center of the machine. The die 40 is drawn outwardly from the center of the machine by a spring 44 and the die 4| is drawn outwardly from the center of the machine by a spring 45. The mold section 40 is actuated by a cam 46 on shaft 35 through lever 41 pivoted as at 48 with reference to which the section 40 is adjustably coupled by the adjustment 49. Section 4I is similarly actuated simultaneously from the shaft 34 through cam 46', lever 41", pivoted as 43' and adjustably connected through the adjustment 49 to the mold section 4 I. These mold sections move toward each other into engagement at parting line 50 as shown in Fig. 5.

Each of these sections 40 and 4| are recessed as at I in the form of a substantially closed loop as shown in Fig. 25, there being a recess 52 to provide a gate i'or the entrance of the plastic to be molded. There is also a recess 53 in lthe face of each section which interrupts the recess 5| from being continuous and in order to complete or close the recess and form it continuous I provide two members 54 and 55 shaped as shown in Fig. 25 one iitting inside of the other and each having an upstanding end as 5S or 51 to extend into the recesses 53 and provide between them, when in the position shown in Fig. 24, an opening 58 which will compete the recess 5| between the members 4t and 4| making it endless. Members 54 and 55 are shaped as shown in Figs. l5. 15a and are together mounted in the'bore 50' of a slide 59 (see Fig. 14) which has a dovetail base which is guided for movement from the front toward the center of the machine in guides |50 and 5| with portions 55, 51 beyond one end of the bore and portions extending beyond the other end of the bore for manipulation. The members 5I and 55 are cut away as at B2 for relative rocking so that the two parts which form opening 53 as shown in Fig. 24 may be spread apart at certain times in their operations.

The slide 5S is moved outwardly from the center of the bed by springs 55 (see Fig. 2) and is moved inwardly by cam 66 at the end of shaft 35 operating through lever 61 pivoted as at 68 and having an adjustable abutment 6B to press against the slide for moving the same inwardly to position. In order to rock the members 54 and 55 relative to each other within the bore 55)' as shown in Fig. 16 I provide a cam 1G (Fig. 2) on the cam shaft 34 to manipulate a lever 1I pivoted as at 12 and having a U-shaped end 13 engaging a lever 14 which is pivoted as at 15 (see Fig. l2) and has a U-shaped end 16 to extend into recess 11 (also Fig. 13) in the plunger 18 which has a head 1Q notched as at 8i) to engage the arms 8| and 82 (see also Figs. 20 and 2l) which are provided on the members 54 and 55 so as to rock these members one about the other.

The injection of the plastic material comprises a construction consisting of four upstanding posts which are secured together at their upper ends by a frame work 9| and upon these posts there is slidingly mounted a head 9i which head is moved upwardly by springs 92 encircling each of the posts 00 and reacting between it and the bed. This head comprises a pair of yokes extending between the forward and rearward posts with a cross piece extending between the two yokes connecting them together and which is provided with a central boss I I2 which carries a casing of a thick wall metal 93 containing tube 94 therein. Resistance wires 95 in a coil about the sleeve 94 are controlled by a thermostatic tube S6 in a coil about the tube from a suitable source 95 through box 96 as shown schematically in Fig. 3 for maintaining these portions at a temperature. A plunger 91 having a spring 58 engaging a head 99 thereof and also engaging the sleeve 94 serves to retract and maintain the plunger outwardly of the sleeve 94. A hopper |00 is filled with granules of plastic material to be fed into the sleeve S4 below the plunger 91. rihe sleeve 94 is provided with an ejecting nozzle tapered at I0| which has an opening |02, the taper is such as to iit into a nare |03 in the mold section 40 and 4I.

The head 9| is moved downwardly by a cam |04 (see Fig. l) acting through slide H35 on the adjustable abutment |06 carried by lever arm |01 and pivoted at |08 so that its end portion |09 will act upon a plate I I0 (see Fig. 4) and through spring I I I upon the boss I I2 which mounts casing 55 on the head 8|. The end portion |09 has an opening H3 therein through which the plunger and upper end of the sleeve 94 pass. This cam |04 serves to move the tapered portion 50| into the mouth |03 to make a snug iit therewith after which camv i l5 (see Fig. 1) acting through plun-` ger IIB and engaging the abutment screw H1 carried by lever I i8 pivoted as I I9 acts to have its end portion |20 (see also Fig. 4) press upon the head 99 and force the plunger 91 downwardly to eject the plastic material I2| into the recess 52, 5I, 53 to ll the same. Immediately that this injection has been made the levers |01 and H8 rock upwardly to permit the plunger 91 to rise and the head 9| with its casing Ss'to rise. The injection leaves a small gate portion |25 on the link which has been formed designated |25 (Fig. 25)

After this link is cast the mold sections 40 and 4| move away from the link leaving ther-link held aeesyoisif by" the auxlliary'mold' members 54" and? 55%' At this point' grippersv 121 and"|2`8`- shown-ir1l'-ig.v 25 and-more fully in Figs. Band' 1'1") -move'-'forwardly from" the rear to grip'thegateiportion' |25. The portions 121' and* 128iare'the'endsofleversi 129 and` 130pivotedA at |3| and drawntogether at their rear ends by spring132; The'endsofthe levers are flared at the" ends of the-surfaces adjacent each other as`v at 133 and are` movable as a unit in'slide 134'. This slide; however, has a plunger 135' with a spring' |36 engaging the head |31l ofA the plungerl to force thesarne` outwardly of the slide.' Springsu 138draw the slide outwardly as a-unit. A cam |40 oncam-shaft 35 operates through lever 14| pivoted at-"142 and having-its end portion 143' engaging'th'e head131 of this plunger. The spring |36 hasY greater force than the springs 138'and consequently the i-lrst movement in response to this lever 14| isI to move the slide 134 inwardly with the jaws |21 and |28 open until theyarrive ata positionembracing the gate |25` (see-Fig. 25') whereupon-'the' slide meets a stop |44 which arrests the'motionof the slide and then as lever^141 continuesfto press the plungerv |35inwardly the-spring 136 will flex and the plunger point will engage theV-opening |33 at the end of the levers |29 andVv 130" and'thus cause these levers to move toward each other to grip the gate |25: The edges |45iof the jawsv 121 and |28 are rather sharp Vbut at apoint` short of severing, a at'surface'on the cam will hold the jaws so that they will'grip Athe gat'e |25 but not sever it. However, a further raised portion on this cam |40 at some later-point inL the cycle will cause plunger |35 to movethe" jaws snugly together in contact and cut` offthe'gate 125;

While the jaws |21 and 128` are holding the cast link |26 the members 54 and 55are" rocked to release the link |26 andfare then" withdrawn from the linkby the spring 65. Thereupon-the jaws |50 and 151 (see Fig. 6) move upwardly from beneath the bed plate 30 to grip the-link |26. After these jaws grip the link andthe-jaws |21` and 128 sever the gate |25; the jaws |50 and 15| turn through 90 and movek downwardly. The jaws 150 and |51 are pivotally related as |52 'and' a spring |53 servesY to open their gripping ends by drawingthe portionsV of the: jaws on the other side of the pivot towardea'ch other. The jawsare beveled as'at 154 so that when in engagement a V slot is formed.. The jaws-are carried in a slide 155 movable vertically in a cylinder |56. The slidehas a bore'151`A in which aIk pin Y1 58vv is slidably mounted. Slide |55 ismoved'foutwardly by spring 159 (see Fig. 1) engagingvthe head |60 of the slide while the member |58 is moved outwardly by spring 16| engaging the head |62 thereof. A cam 105 operates 'lever 66 which is pivoted at |61 withl its operating end |68 in th'eform of a U to engage the headv |60`of the slide |65 which'lnoves the4 slide upwardly while the' jaws |50 and |51 are open'tdaposition such asshown in Fig. 8 where-movem'entof the jaws isstopped, such for instance as by means of the". end of slot 110 engaging apin-HI. Thereuponcam |12 actuates lever |13 pivoted as at 14 and has an actuating end 115 to engage the head |62 of plunger |58 to force the same inwardly through the slide |55 so as to enter the notch 154 and thus spread this end of the jaws causing the other end to grip the link |26 and hold the same tightly. As soon as this operation is performed the cutters 121 and 120 cut 01T the gate. The link so gripped is then turned through substantially 90 and then lowered to a position where Gr'ripping` members` 1 21 and` |28` move.forward..and.

` these grippers |50, |51

it" will "lie1 engaged* byf the*- upper edgesf 56;I "fof the members 54;- 55Fso1-that2'5this portioirofitheseA port 181|! (see Figi) The arm |1'1may be moved" through oi" arcffrom theA full linef position shownin Fig. lto the dotted linepositionshown in'lli'g. 10 by: movement of the rod |'80i`and-the' pin 1.19 which extends" from this rod" into the: opening|18a Thefm'ovementof this' rod is accomplish'ed' positively: by having-a follower |825' extending intoa` recessvin .the vcam` carried upon the-shaftr i Operation From the foregoing. it suminga link.is cast in mold portions. 40, 4`|` while the link is supported'by auxiliary portions 54,r 55, of the moldat the. lowerw edge. thereof.

will be apparent, asa mold that themain grasp .the gateofthe tions ofthe mold 54 link and' move away` |50and' 15| grasp the link; and the auxiliary/'porand 554- open and free the from. the link. Grippers the link will enter the recesses53` in the main.

mold 40, 4| when these parts are closed.. As

lower the link,- the members' 54- and 55 move inwardly to enter` this link and supportit thenA the ma'm part of thevmold 40, 51 closes in to cooperate with the portions 54, 55-to complete the mold.v Then thelevers 1| Band 01'operate1to'move theinjecting mechanism d'ownt'o'the moldand injectsuicient plastic to"fllthe mold andthegate which is formed in this operation;` after" which the main portion off'themold'separates-'leaving the cast link held by the" members 54, 55 and the operationsA are repeated'. Thelinks as formed move to one side asA they arereleased by thegrippers |50`and |51- which moveA downwardly so asto passidownwardly beneath-the bed plate out of the machineas shown in Fig; 7.

Themachinewhich hasbeen described may be used for providingflinksof any shape which may be molded;A suchK forinstance as the -Ashape shown at' ISIFand |91 in Fig: 28 of the' link may'varyat different points along its extenti' Aswillbe apparent; the machine may be used for molding any material which may be injecte'd'asheretofore illustrated. The machine is.

particularly adapted* forV molding a plastic ma.- terial of: 'the several varieties which are at'` present available" on the market.

While the'machine' is'shownV automatic in itsoperation; it .is'al'so apparentthat a mold such las indicated in'Figs; .25;to 27 includingthetwo'pairs.

ofparts; oneofwhichmay support the formed link while the otherpair 'of 'parts of 'the mold are separated, may be utilized in hand mechanisms where complete automatic operation is not required but the advantages of using a part of the mold to support a previously formed link and also act as a part of the mold for the link to be formed is of advantage.

I claim:

1. In a chain machine, a mold for a chain link comprising a plurality of parts mounted for move- (see Fig. 1'0) whichis" slotted as'at' move away fromv the. link.

link and`v then the mem- 1 bers 12.1'and |28`arev further actuated to cutthe.

where the cross section ment from and toward-each otherrinto Afirm engagement so as to provide a closed cavity for molding a link, means for injecting material into said mold to form a link and a gate extending therefrom, severing means separate of the mold parts mounted for movement toward the gate of the link formed for engaging the gate to support the link after separation of said mold parts, holding means for engaging the link for further manipulation of the link, means for actuating the severing means to sever the gate of the link formed, and means for thereafter operating the holding means for further moving the link.

2. In a chain machine, a mold for a chain link comprising a plurality of parts mounted for movement from and toward each other into iirm engagement said mold having an encircling closed cavity for molding a link, means for injecting material into said mold to form a link, means for separating certain of said mold parts from the f link formed, holding means movable for engaging and retaining the link formed in position for further manipulation thereof, means for separating the remaining mold parts from said link, means for engaging and movable for positioning the link to be at a location so that the cast portion passes at an angle to the plane of and within the encircling portion of the closed cavity of said mold when said mold parts are moved toward each other to have a subsequently formed link molded therethrough.

3. In a chain machine, a mold for a chain link comprising a plurality of parts mounted f or movement from and toward each other into firm engagement so as to provide a closed cavity for molding a link, means for injecting material into said mold to form a link and a gate extending therefrom, means for separating certain of said mold parts from the link formed, holding means movable for engaging the gate of the link formed for holding the link formed in position for further manipulation thereof, said holding means comprising a severing means, means for separating the remaining mold parts from said link, means for engaging and movable for positioning the link to be at a location so that the cast portion passes at an angle to the plane of and within the encircling portion of the closed cavity of said mold when said mold parts are moved toward each other to have a subsequently formed link molded therethrough, said severing means being operable for severing the gate of the link subsequent to the engaging of the link by the positioning means and prior to the movement of the positioning means for positioning the link to l a location to be within the confines of the close cavity.

V4. In a chain machine, a mold having an annular cavity therein for forming a chain link of loop shape with open center, the cavity forming portion of the mold comprising two relatively movable sections forming part of the cavity and two relatively movable members forming the remainder of the cavity, means for injecting material into the mold, means for relatively moving the sections to leave a cast link held by the members,

means for moving the members to release the link, means to transfer a cast link from said members to a removed position and at an angle to the plane of said cavity, and means to return said sections and members to form the mold with the cavity thereof extending through the open center of a previously cast link.

5. In a chain machine as in claim 4 wherein the link cast has a gate cast therewith and said means to transfer engages and removes said gate.

6. In a chain machine -as in claim 4 wherein said sections are movable toward and from each other in a straight line and said members are mounted for a pivotal movement toward and from each other.

- 7. In a chain machine, a mold having an annular cavity therein for forming a chain link, comprising two sections forming part of the cavity and two members forming the remainder of the cavity, means for moving said sections and members to and from assembled relation for forming said cavity, and means for injecting material into said mold, said members being mounted for pivotal movement about an axis in the plane of the cleavage line of the sections for separation thereof from the formed link.

8. In a chain machine, a mold having an annular cavity therein for forming a chain link, comprising two sections forming part of the cavity and two members forming the remainder of the cavity, means for moving said sections and members to and from assembled relation for forming said cavity, and means for injecting material into said mold, said members being for a portion of their length, parts of a cylinder and relatively rotatable in a common bearing about a common axis which is in the plane of the cleavage line of the sections.

9 In a chain machine, a mold having an annular-cavity therein for forming a chain link, comprising two sections forming part of the cavity and two members forming the remainder of the cavity, means for reciprocating said sections toward and from engagement with each other and means for rotating said members about a common axis which is in the plane of the cleavage line of the sections to and from assembled relation with said members for forming said cavity, and means for injecting material into said mold.

CHARLES DEISS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in they file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

